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For Immediate Release

Harnessing the Power of Positive Thoughts and Emotions to Treat Depression

New Rochelle, NY, August 3, 2011-Positive activity interventions (PAIs) offer a safe, low-cost, and self-administered approach to managing depression and may offer hope to individuals with depressive disorders who do not respond or have access to adequate medical therapy, according to a comprehensive review article in The Journal of Alternative and Complementary Medicine, a peer-reviewed journal published by Mary Ann Liebert, Inc. The article, "Delivering Happiness: Translating Positive Psychology Intervention Research for Treating Major and Minor Depressive Disorders" is available free online.

More than 100 million people worldwide suffer from depression, and an estimated 70-90% either do not receive sufficient medical treatment, do not respond to therapy, or do not have access to quality care. As a result, there is an immense unmet need for alternative, economical, and effective strategies for treating major and minor depression.

They discuss the views of PAIs presented in the literature, propose models for how PAIs might relieve depression and describe how it might be possible to translate the potential benefits of PAIs into clinical treatments for patients with depressive disorders. The authors also propose goals for future research on PAIs.

"This is ground-breaking work of global significance. It applies in all cultures at all times but especially in our pharmaceutically dominated culture of dependence. Because it is in many ways common sense, it is all the more important to have scientific validation and more low cost highly effective means to help people submerged in the sea of depression," says Journal Editor Kim A. Jobst, MA, DM, MRCP, MFHom.

The Journal of Alternative and Complementary Medicine is a monthly peer-reviewed journal publishing observational, clinical, and scientific reports and commentary intended to help healthcare professionals and scientists evaluate and integrate therapies into patient care protocols and research strategies. Complete tables of content and a free sample issue may be viewed online.